Pompey sit proudly on top of League Two tonight after a 2-1 win at Bristol Rovers which most would agree was fully deserved.
The Blues may have ground out a result or two this season on days when they have not played that well, but here they found the performance to warrant the win.
Gareth Evans and Jayden Stockley were the goalscorers in a victory that moved Pompey a point clear in first place.
Aaron McCarey, Danny Hollands and Adam Barton came in for injured duo Brian Murphy and Nigel Atangana and suspended Michael Doyle, and there was another change needed when Adam McGurk hurt his ankle in the warm-up. Stockley was the man to come into the line-up.
New-look Pompey were soon into their stride and Evans was first to draw keeper Lee Nicholls into serious action.
Conor Chaplin had two decent chances - one a sitter from three yards - before Evans put Pompey on their way, heading in Kyle Bennett's pinpoint cross.
McCarey did have some work to do in the first half having been redundant for much of it, but the on-loan keeper had little trouble keeping out efforts from Jermaine Easter.
It was a different story three minutes after the break when Easter's shot hit the bar, struck McCarey and went in. It was harsh on the keeper but the question was could Pompey come again?
The answer was yes, but only after Easter almost put Rovers ahead with a long-range shot that struck the post.
Chaplin was booked for diving when the youngster wanted a penalty and he was soon replaced by Gary Roberts.
Bennett wasted a good opportunity but Stockey restored Pompey's lead when he stuck out a leg to divert a Ben Davies cross past Nicholls.
If anyone was likely to score the game's fourth goal it was Pompey, with Kai Naismith and Matt Tubbs coming off the bench and looking lively.
Another goal didn't come but it didn't matter to the 1,100-plus Blues fans as they celebrated their team moving to the summit of League Two.
It all sets up Pompey nicely for two home games in a week - versus Exeter on Tuesday and Yeovil on Saturday.
Pompey: McCarey; Davies, Clarke, Burgess, Stevens; Barton, Hollands; Evans, Chaplin (Roberts 68), Bennett (Naismith 74); Stockley (Tubbs 79). Subs not used: Bass, Webster, May.
Referee: Jeremy Simpson
Attendance: 8,555 (1,188)
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